LUBBOCK, Texas – The University of the Incarnate Word volleyball team fell in four sets to Texas Tech and five sets to Houston on Saturday in its final two matches of the Texas Tech Red Raider Classic in Lubbock, Texas.

NOTABLES

• Julia Monday tallied season highs in both kills (11) and digs (four) against Texas Tech

• Presley Blaylock recorded a career-high 33 assists with seven digs and three kills against Texas Tech and collected at least 25 assists in all three matches of the tournament

• Cameron Taylor picked up a season-high eight digs against Texas Tech

• Bethany Clapp led all Cardinals with 26 kills on the day

• Carissa McGarity was named to the All-Tournament team

HOW IT HAPPENED

TEXAS TECH

SETS 1 AND 2 (22-25 AND 25-23) | UIW came out swinging in the opening set, jumping in front of Tech 6-3 in the early going. The Red Raiders scored seven out of the next nine points to take a 10-8 lead, but the Cardinals held strong and regained the lead after Blaylock recorded all three of her kills in a span of six plays that propelled UIW to a 21-17 advantage. Tech responded with a 7-0 scoring run that proved too much to overcome as the Red Raiders won the first set. 

The Cardinals didn't let the disappointing end to the first set deter them from coming out aggressive in the second set. With 13 ties and three lead changes, this set was the most tightly-contested of any in the match. UIW leaned on Monday early on, with the junior recording three kills to help UIW get out to a 12-10 lead. The set went back and forth for the remainder of the match, with a kill from Camden Gray sealing the set victory for the Cardinals. 

SETS 3 AND 4 (15-25 AND 20-25) | UIW carried the momentum from its second set into the start of the third, flying out to an 8-3 lead before Tech took a timeout. The Red Raiders figured something out during the break, scoring 22 of the next 29 points for a 25-15 win. 

UIW again started strong in the fourth set, opening up a 10-6 lead, with a few Tech attack errors and kills from Monday and Clapp to push its lead out to 14-9. Tech sparked another scoring run, however, and finished with a 25-20 victory to win the match. 

HOUSTON

SETS 1 AND 2 (13-25 AND 26-24) | After UIW scored the opening three points, Houston scored six consecutive points to take the lead and close the set on a 7-2 run for a 25-13 win. UIW responded with a tightly-contest victory in the second set despite digging itself into a 12-4 hole to begin the set. The Cardinals finished the set on a 22-12 run to even up the match at 1-1.

SETS 3 AND 4 (13-25 AND 26-24) | In the third set, it was UIW that got off to a scorching start, leaping in front of Houston 13-4 and riding that momentum to a comfortable 25-20 win that wasn't as close as the score indicated. The Cardinals trailed the Cougards for the majority of the fourth set, grabbing their first lead at 21-20 before Houston pulled away for a 26-24 victory.

SET 5 (10-15) | Clapp's three kills in the final set weren't enough to lift UIW to a victory as Houston scored the final four points to close out the match, 3-2.

UP NEXT

UIW waves farewell to its nonconference schedule and opens up SLC play on the road against Abilene Christian on Thursday, Sept. 26, at 6 p.m.

FOLLOW ALONG

For the most up-to-date information on UIW Athletics, visit uiwcardinals.com, follow the Cardinals on Twitter @UIWAthletics and like UIW Athletics on Facebook at UIW Athletics. You can also follow the volleyball team on Twitter @UIWVolleyball and Instagram @UIW_Volleyball.